3-5 a.m. is the time when often I will awaken from a dream in which I am being pursued or confronted with a malicious person or system. I hadn’t thought of it as an addiction, but I often want to follow the story to a victorious conclusion. What would I do? and the story plays out. There is a sense of empowerment, of movement instead of the freeze response. At other times, I shift over to a pleasant consideration with kind people. I will try the 3 steps! Thank you so very much!
I’m aware of chronic tension in my body that connects to worries large and small. Seems very helpful to apply a process — identifying thoughts and then the associated feelings in the body. Might be harder to identify what is needed for comfort/kindness, but probably gets easier with practice.
And to think, I did not think I was a worrier.
Having been anxious most of my life, I thought I was “stuck” with it. The last several years, after therapy n much reading, studying and introspection, I ve been giving myself care n love. With these teachings, I’m progressing even further into self awareness. Thank you. 🙏🏽
Worry is constant in my mind. My meditation practice has helped me to focus and stay more in the moment which helps to relieve the worry. I’ve just not learned to stay in the present moment every moment of the day. Tara said it right when she said it is a fear of failing. My mind keeps saying I’m not good enough; I can’t go that.
I have been addicted to worrying with anxious thoughts all my life since I was raised in an apartment. From not feeling comfortable in my own skin to emotional eating, the lack of acceptance and love I have experienced influenced how I saw myself. At times, it was uncomfortably difficult for me to cope with pain and trauma in my life especially when I needed support. I had to figure out some things on my own with the therapy app when I could not afford to see a professional counselor or therapist. Now I’m using this three-step mindfulness practice to help me heal and recover from trauma. It takes a lot of time and practice to find your center and tap into your body and be mindful of the physical sensations that you are experiencing now. I send my love and compassion to those who are struggling.
I am anxious all the time. I have been in therapy forever for this problem. I wake up in the middle of the night with a sense of dread. Most days I rarely get more than 5 hours of sleep. Sometimes I follow what you have just related. Sometimes it works. Sometimes I cannot get my mind and body to cooperate. That’s when I get up and watch self-help videos on you tube. However, I will continue in hopes someday to be free of the dread.
Thank you for everything you do Ms. Brach. I have followed you for years.
I deal with occasional cycles of generalized anxiety. But I will say in reading the comments here from other people, the stresses in my life are minute compared to what many people have endured! For that I am grateful and I send my love to you all who are struggling.
70 years after being hung out a window from three stories every couple of weeks and I struggle with fear they crippled my life. I can’t do bridges so I Jane been limited as to paths taken. Thanks for this, I just wish I’d caught it before it was being taken down. Blessings, jon
My mom got Alzheimer’s at 54 and died 59. The disease has been a dark cloud in my life. I didn’t marry, didn’t want to have children. I started to do yoga and to meditate. I travelled to India, to a ashram dedicated to the spiritual guru Osho. Since 2015 I have been in a research program on Alzheimer’s. So, my fear is both based upon bad genes and a lately not so good short term memory. I first become aware of you in a Mindfullness app, and Finding true refuge, Radical Self-Acceptance and Meditations for Emotional Healing has helped me much. I am in fact preparing for dying before I get really sick or diagnosed. But I manage fine in my daily life. So, do I worry too much? I live alone. Should I prepare myself for the dark night? I have a strong need for having control of how my life will end. I am 70 this summer, still able to enjoy life. But I shrink in despair sometimes. I wish I didn’t have to be alone.
I have generalized anxiety. I could think of something I’m uncomfortable with and immediately I could feel the anxious feeling coming on. Plus when I get this way I tend to want to feel safe so I end up a thing home until
I feel comfortable.
I have been myself an addict to worry thoughts all my life since I was raised in a difficult family environment. Thank you for this video. I have learned by mindfulness and bible meditation to rest and be more worry free but Im still learning.
I found the video extremely helpful having some clients at present who suffer anticipatory anxiety about being recalled to work to an emergency plant failure. Although it doe the time not at work has become overshadowed. This video with its three steps will I am certain assist the client to manage better and it is good he is already studying Mindfulness and knows the amygdala can react very strongly even after a wrong phone call. Many thanks for your wise counsel.
Thank you for the reminder that some anxiety is a helpful tool, but many of us are addicted to anxiety. Knowing the difference is essential and life giving. There is also a difference between rumination loops and effective time-limited problem solving.
In July 2022 I had Covid. I had vaccinations and seemed to be recovering. However at present I find myself not being able to return to the same level of function. I have doctors who are on the cutting edge but find myself waking up worrying about possibilities that I find unpleasant. Breathing through this has helped. But it is painful to think some people never return to their normal.
My worries are usually related to past trauma getting triggered. I’ve discovered that thought recognition gives me the mindfulness to be more aware most of the time to decompress and clear my mind of worry thoughts. However, since I feel my thinking it can be sudden. Slowing things down with your three steps is Very helpful. Thank you:)
I find I worry about silly things but I do know that there is always a way to solve the problem and it may not even occur.
I find I say to myself alot “Put your big girl knickers on Annette, can do this!!” this is like a kick up the bum to plough through.
I also tell people how this helps me when they ask how I manage to be so confident or brave. when I tell them I have anxiety and have taught my self methods to control and deal with what I call the devil in my room or more so my mind, by self care and being kind and encouraging to one self can achieve anything.
I think I believe that my safety is based on my worrying (I call it thinking ahead or planning!) and I find it really hard to let go of it, even though it definitely stresses me out and stops me enjoying the very things I have planned!! I think fear of failure is a huge driver for me. Thanks for the clarity in this video!
Thank you very much for the video. The explanation of the difference between fear and anxiety was very helpful. I think I am possibly a chronic worrier and it would be great to change that behavior. On the other hand, feeling anxiety about failing at something has actually motivated me to achieve most major life goals I have set for myself and in general all is well. But all the worrying makes things unnecessarily painful. It would be good learn to let go, reduce the self imposed pressure to succeed and to find more joy in life rather than always trying to avoid the possibilty of failure by keeping all the plates of life spinning.
Bless you, Tara Brach! Being aware of my thinking and realizing that anxiety is addictive is a very important important step number one. Who would have thought I would learn this at age 76! Being kind to yourself and realizing the habit can be broken is priceless. Thank you for your caring heart.
My first reaction was that this doesn’t really pertain to me. Ha! I liked learning how to differentiate between fear and worry which produces anxiety. Most importantly I love having the tools to practice getting out of those addictions. Thank you. I’m sorry I won’t be able to access these videos after today
Jimmy, Dublin, Ireland.
Hindsight is an amazing teacher !
From early childhood traumas until 30yrs of age, I was a walking ball of tension and anxiety, as I lived outside of myself, I had no conscious awareness of feelings or sensations.
lucky me, l married into addiction and everything became compounded, so fear and anxiety, my best teachers, forced me to look in.
When I became aware 1982 ( as you say Tara) I committed to myself to break the loop, so I started to stop, stand still and ask, who am I, where am I and what am I supposed to be doing right now ?
Initially I checked in every 15mins after a few weeks, every 10mins then 5mins until I became more rooted in the present.
Then when anxious thought arose, it was seen, not entertained, and so it would just fall away.
I am 75 and have not carried fear or anxiety since.
I have also seen through so called death, only the body dies.
In gratitude Tara, keep doing what your doing.
Jimmy 😊
I’ve been a worrier for as long as I can remember. My 5th-grade teacher shared his concern for me regarding that to my parents at a parent-teacher conference. I think my worry is fear-based and was fueled by my fundamentalist Christian upbringing, which I continuously questioned. I’ve been listening to Tara Brach’s podcasts, and have found them to be very helpful. I always want to learn more.
The looping is a viscous circle that is like putting on dark sun glasses and you really can’t see what’s right in front. Mindfulness and discrimination is good, the act of caring is breaking the repeat mode and an offering to see more clearly and feel more truly. Thank you
I am really good at worrying! My son says he’s going to hire me to do his worrying for him! Seriously though, I am so grateful to actually have this 3-step process. I love that easy way of remembering something I can do to stop worrying about what might never happen. Worrying usually makes me sad and tired, and the fact that I can actually have some control over it fills me with joy! Thanks a lot for this video!
One of my clients definitely stays addicted to their pattern of anxious thoughts, as they are running subconsciously in the background / right under the surface all the time. We are working to mindfully become aware of them, b/c the client tends to ignore / deny until feelings “leak out” – often experienced as panic attacks. This exercise succinctly offers great, simple but powerful step-by-step instructions to build this awareness skill. Thank you!
The idea that self doubt is the major contributor to worry. Rings true for me. I try and hide all the things I have done that I’m ashamed of. If I can’t hide them. Then I tend to cut people out of my life as another way of hiding. On some level I can accept the destructive choices I have made because I know it is really not who I’m at the core. But at the same time I want to hide it from others. Working really hard right now at not hiding. And sharing my shortcomings.
As I move back to my home country from the country where I have been based for a decade, I fear whether I will be able to handle and adjust to the changes. There are other health related worries too- time to look them squarely in their face – rather than living with the dread of possibilities.
My chronic anxiety is always had to do with not feeling safe. Whether it’s about losing a job, or my physical safety in most cases, most especially away from home. I’ve worked with an excellent therapist, and recently transitioned to a trauma therapist. The terrorist teachings have carried me through and helped me grow into having a bigger life with reduced anxiety over the last 5 years. I love this series! This lesson reminds me that I can do this in a few short minutes. I don’t have to carve out and commit hours a day. I can actually address the anxiety in the moment.
I have been practicing a 3 step action for disturbing thoughts and i would now add the part of awareness into the body and breathing into it. thank you so much
Thank you for this video and for the insights Tara gave with anxiety being an addiction. I never really thought of it in those terms. I have had an addiction to worry for my entire life. I literally cannot remember a time when worry, anxiety or outright fear wasn’t there in some capacity. There have been moments where it was in the background, but usually it would rear its head as soon as I felt like I wasn’t keeping up, I wasn’t worthy, or I may fail (or at least not excel). Failing is for sure the underlying fear in my life.
In addition to feeling anxiety about specific events and questioning my ability to handle them, I have a lifelong, sometimes debilitating fear of death. I am now in my late 70’s and the knowledge of death’s inevitability is not comforting.
It’s interesting how the cycle of anxiety keeps us locked in and how non-judgment and compassion allow us to release and slow down that cycle. I love to be able to practice mindfulness on a daily basis and to see its benefits so plainly on this video. Thank you, Tara
Having experienced a traumatic event, I have firsthand experience living in fear, running scared, expecting more unpleasantness around every corner. As I’ve moved forward, and backward, in the letting go process,I can see where anxiety has crept in to replace the jumpiness of fear with chronic worry. It’s more situational now and less pervasive, and continues to stifle my living life to the best of my abilities. Thank you for going through this mini practice.
Very helpful video. Always comforting to hear others have similar experiences. Specifically around the question of isn’t some anxiety helpful to be prepared for future events – that thought has kept me stuck and addicted to worry.
3-5 a.m. is the time when often I will awaken from a dream in which I am being pursued or confronted with a malicious person or system. I hadn’t thought of it as an addiction, but I often want to follow the story to a victorious conclusion. What would I do? and the story plays out. There is a sense of empowerment, of movement instead of the freeze response. At other times, I shift over to a pleasant consideration with kind people. I will try the 3 steps! Thank you so very much!
Such commonsense. And deepening the experience of self care. So useful.
This is very like what Kristen Neff teaches and it makes sense. I am practicing this kindness to myself, and I see a tiny bit of light thus far.
I’m aware of chronic tension in my body that connects to worries large and small. Seems very helpful to apply a process — identifying thoughts and then the associated feelings in the body. Might be harder to identify what is needed for comfort/kindness, but probably gets easier with practice.
And to think, I did not think I was a worrier.
Having been anxious most of my life, I thought I was “stuck” with it. The last several years, after therapy n much reading, studying and introspection, I ve been giving myself care n love. With these teachings, I’m progressing even further into self awareness. Thank you. 🙏🏽
Worry is constant in my mind. My meditation practice has helped me to focus and stay more in the moment which helps to relieve the worry. I’ve just not learned to stay in the present moment every moment of the day. Tara said it right when she said it is a fear of failing. My mind keeps saying I’m not good enough; I can’t go that.
Helpful. Thank you.
I have been addicted to worrying with anxious thoughts all my life since I was raised in an apartment. From not feeling comfortable in my own skin to emotional eating, the lack of acceptance and love I have experienced influenced how I saw myself. At times, it was uncomfortably difficult for me to cope with pain and trauma in my life especially when I needed support. I had to figure out some things on my own with the therapy app when I could not afford to see a professional counselor or therapist. Now I’m using this three-step mindfulness practice to help me heal and recover from trauma. It takes a lot of time and practice to find your center and tap into your body and be mindful of the physical sensations that you are experiencing now. I send my love and compassion to those who are struggling.
When I place my hand on my heart, I feel blessed and relaxed…no worry and no stress.
I am anxious all the time. I have been in therapy forever for this problem. I wake up in the middle of the night with a sense of dread. Most days I rarely get more than 5 hours of sleep. Sometimes I follow what you have just related. Sometimes it works. Sometimes I cannot get my mind and body to cooperate. That’s when I get up and watch self-help videos on you tube. However, I will continue in hopes someday to be free of the dread.
Thank you for everything you do Ms. Brach. I have followed you for years.
I deal with occasional cycles of generalized anxiety. But I will say in reading the comments here from other people, the stresses in my life are minute compared to what many people have endured! For that I am grateful and I send my love to you all who are struggling.
Thank you for this insightful presentation. Love how it resonates!
70 years after being hung out a window from three stories every couple of weeks and I struggle with fear they crippled my life. I can’t do bridges so I Jane been limited as to paths taken. Thanks for this, I just wish I’d caught it before it was being taken down. Blessings, jon
Thank you for connecting the possibilities of healing the body and mind true ways that are easy to understand and inspiring to try!
My mom got Alzheimer’s at 54 and died 59. The disease has been a dark cloud in my life. I didn’t marry, didn’t want to have children. I started to do yoga and to meditate. I travelled to India, to a ashram dedicated to the spiritual guru Osho. Since 2015 I have been in a research program on Alzheimer’s. So, my fear is both based upon bad genes and a lately not so good short term memory. I first become aware of you in a Mindfullness app, and Finding true refuge, Radical Self-Acceptance and Meditations for Emotional Healing has helped me much. I am in fact preparing for dying before I get really sick or diagnosed. But I manage fine in my daily life. So, do I worry too much? I live alone. Should I prepare myself for the dark night? I have a strong need for having control of how my life will end. I am 70 this summer, still able to enjoy life. But I shrink in despair sometimes. I wish I didn’t have to be alone.
I have generalized anxiety. I could think of something I’m uncomfortable with and immediately I could feel the anxious feeling coming on. Plus when I get this way I tend to want to feel safe so I end up a thing home until
I feel comfortable.
I have been myself an addict to worry thoughts all my life since I was raised in a difficult family environment. Thank you for this video. I have learned by mindfulness and bible meditation to rest and be more worry free but Im still learning.
This describes me so well. Looking forward to applying this quick strategy to ease my episodes of unnecessary apprehension. Thank you.
I will use the 3 steps. I believe they will be helpful. Thank you Tara.
I found the video extremely helpful having some clients at present who suffer anticipatory anxiety about being recalled to work to an emergency plant failure. Although it doe the time not at work has become overshadowed. This video with its three steps will I am certain assist the client to manage better and it is good he is already studying Mindfulness and knows the amygdala can react very strongly even after a wrong phone call. Many thanks for your wise counsel.
Thank you for the reminder that some anxiety is a helpful tool, but many of us are addicted to anxiety. Knowing the difference is essential and life giving. There is also a difference between rumination loops and effective time-limited problem solving.
Anxiety can stop us living our better life, great to have a process to give support to others.
thank you
Good reminder to ground myself and help get myself back into good sleeping pattern as very busy mind
In July 2022 I had Covid. I had vaccinations and seemed to be recovering. However at present I find myself not being able to return to the same level of function. I have doctors who are on the cutting edge but find myself waking up worrying about possibilities that I find unpleasant. Breathing through this has helped. But it is painful to think some people never return to their normal.
My worries are usually related to past trauma getting triggered. I’ve discovered that thought recognition gives me the mindfulness to be more aware most of the time to decompress and clear my mind of worry thoughts. However, since I feel my thinking it can be sudden. Slowing things down with your three steps is Very helpful. Thank you:)
I find I worry about silly things but I do know that there is always a way to solve the problem and it may not even occur.
I find I say to myself alot “Put your big girl knickers on Annette, can do this!!” this is like a kick up the bum to plough through.
I also tell people how this helps me when they ask how I manage to be so confident or brave. when I tell them I have anxiety and have taught my self methods to control and deal with what I call the devil in my room or more so my mind, by self care and being kind and encouraging to one self can achieve anything.
I think I believe that my safety is based on my worrying (I call it thinking ahead or planning!) and I find it really hard to let go of it, even though it definitely stresses me out and stops me enjoying the very things I have planned!! I think fear of failure is a huge driver for me. Thanks for the clarity in this video!
Very profound and helpful! Thank you so much
I don’t worry, I choose renunciation!
Thank you very much for the video. The explanation of the difference between fear and anxiety was very helpful. I think I am possibly a chronic worrier and it would be great to change that behavior. On the other hand, feeling anxiety about failing at something has actually motivated me to achieve most major life goals I have set for myself and in general all is well. But all the worrying makes things unnecessarily painful. It would be good learn to let go, reduce the self imposed pressure to succeed and to find more joy in life rather than always trying to avoid the possibilty of failure by keeping all the plates of life spinning.
it makes sense..just a new habit that must be consistently practiced .I also use journaling and scripture verses too. I appreciate your videos.
Bless you, Tara Brach! Being aware of my thinking and realizing that anxiety is addictive is a very important important step number one. Who would have thought I would learn this at age 76! Being kind to yourself and realizing the habit can be broken is priceless. Thank you for your caring heart.
My first reaction was that this doesn’t really pertain to me. Ha! I liked learning how to differentiate between fear and worry which produces anxiety. Most importantly I love having the tools to practice getting out of those addictions. Thank you. I’m sorry I won’t be able to access these videos after today
Jimmy, Dublin, Ireland.
Hindsight is an amazing teacher !
From early childhood traumas until 30yrs of age, I was a walking ball of tension and anxiety, as I lived outside of myself, I had no conscious awareness of feelings or sensations.
lucky me, l married into addiction and everything became compounded, so fear and anxiety, my best teachers, forced me to look in.
When I became aware 1982 ( as you say Tara) I committed to myself to break the loop, so I started to stop, stand still and ask, who am I, where am I and what am I supposed to be doing right now ?
Initially I checked in every 15mins after a few weeks, every 10mins then 5mins until I became more rooted in the present.
Then when anxious thought arose, it was seen, not entertained, and so it would just fall away.
I am 75 and have not carried fear or anxiety since.
I have also seen through so called death, only the body dies.
In gratitude Tara, keep doing what your doing.
Jimmy 😊
I’ve been a worrier for as long as I can remember. My 5th-grade teacher shared his concern for me regarding that to my parents at a parent-teacher conference. I think my worry is fear-based and was fueled by my fundamentalist Christian upbringing, which I continuously questioned. I’ve been listening to Tara Brach’s podcasts, and have found them to be very helpful. I always want to learn more.
The looping is a viscous circle that is like putting on dark sun glasses and you really can’t see what’s right in front. Mindfulness and discrimination is good, the act of caring is breaking the repeat mode and an offering to see more clearly and feel more truly. Thank you
great insight
I am really good at worrying! My son says he’s going to hire me to do his worrying for him! Seriously though, I am so grateful to actually have this 3-step process. I love that easy way of remembering something I can do to stop worrying about what might never happen. Worrying usually makes me sad and tired, and the fact that I can actually have some control over it fills me with joy! Thanks a lot for this video!
Yes, this is very helpful. Much gratitude, Tara.
One of my clients definitely stays addicted to their pattern of anxious thoughts, as they are running subconsciously in the background / right under the surface all the time. We are working to mindfully become aware of them, b/c the client tends to ignore / deny until feelings “leak out” – often experienced as panic attacks. This exercise succinctly offers great, simple but powerful step-by-step instructions to build this awareness skill. Thank you!
The idea that self doubt is the major contributor to worry. Rings true for me. I try and hide all the things I have done that I’m ashamed of. If I can’t hide them. Then I tend to cut people out of my life as another way of hiding. On some level I can accept the destructive choices I have made because I know it is really not who I’m at the core. But at the same time I want to hide it from others. Working really hard right now at not hiding. And sharing my shortcomings.
As I move back to my home country from the country where I have been based for a decade, I fear whether I will be able to handle and adjust to the changes. There are other health related worries too- time to look them squarely in their face – rather than living with the dread of possibilities.
A clear, an informative and practical message. Thank you!
My chronic anxiety is always had to do with not feeling safe. Whether it’s about losing a job, or my physical safety in most cases, most especially away from home. I’ve worked with an excellent therapist, and recently transitioned to a trauma therapist. The terrorist teachings have carried me through and helped me grow into having a bigger life with reduced anxiety over the last 5 years. I love this series! This lesson reminds me that I can do this in a few short minutes. I don’t have to carve out and commit hours a day. I can actually address the anxiety in the moment.
I have been practicing a 3 step action for disturbing thoughts and i would now add the part of awareness into the body and breathing into it. thank you so much
Thank you for this video and for the insights Tara gave with anxiety being an addiction. I never really thought of it in those terms. I have had an addiction to worry for my entire life. I literally cannot remember a time when worry, anxiety or outright fear wasn’t there in some capacity. There have been moments where it was in the background, but usually it would rear its head as soon as I felt like I wasn’t keeping up, I wasn’t worthy, or I may fail (or at least not excel). Failing is for sure the underlying fear in my life.
In addition to feeling anxiety about specific events and questioning my ability to handle them, I have a lifelong, sometimes debilitating fear of death. I am now in my late 70’s and the knowledge of death’s inevitability is not comforting.
It’s interesting how the cycle of anxiety keeps us locked in and how non-judgment and compassion allow us to release and slow down that cycle. I love to be able to practice mindfulness on a daily basis and to see its benefits so plainly on this video. Thank you, Tara
Having experienced a traumatic event, I have firsthand experience living in fear, running scared, expecting more unpleasantness around every corner. As I’ve moved forward, and backward, in the letting go process,I can see where anxiety has crept in to replace the jumpiness of fear with chronic worry. It’s more situational now and less pervasive, and continues to stifle my living life to the best of my abilities. Thank you for going through this mini practice.
Very helpful video. Always comforting to hear others have similar experiences. Specifically around the question of isn’t some anxiety helpful to be prepared for future events – that thought has kept me stuck and addicted to worry.